Metamagnetic phase transition in Nd1−x TbxCo2 compounds

The electric resistivity and neutron diffraction measurements of the intermetallic compounds Nd_1?x Tb_xCo₂ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1) have been performed. All compounds have a cubic structure at room temperature and a rhombohedral structure at 4.2 K. The magnetic structure of these compounds is described by the wave vector k = 0. The magnetizations of the rare earth and cobalt sublattices increase with increasing x. The concentration dependence of the cobalt sublattice magnetization is explained on the basis of the model of metamagnetic band subsystem in compounds of the RCo₂ type.